Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Dear List / Copied to Arumugaswami of Hinduism Today Hinduism Today's Jly/Aug/Sept edition has done a very positive review of our publication: Hinduism for Schools. This will certainly help promote the book in the USA. However in this issue we also noticed the article by Dr Frank Morales on Radical Universalism (which is on his site at) http://www.dharmacentral.com/universalism.htm This article is inaccurate and in poor taste as it talks as if Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda ever taught or promoted the idea that 'All religions are same'. and blames the problem of modern Hindus on these spiritual giants who protected Hinduism during its most difficult period! I think it fair that we send in our comments to this magazine's editorial team. I have already requested them to let me do a positive article on Ramakrishna/Vivekanada to balance the poor presentation in this issue. I am waiting to hear from them. I have a great deal of respect for the team at Hinduism today and was very surprised and hurt that they have allowed such a poor article to be published. Letters to editor should be sent with writers name, address and daytime phone number to email: letters regards jay Vivekananda Centre London Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Dear all, When I first read Dr Frank Morales's article a few weeks back on Sulekha, I felt deep anguish. Among other things, Dr. Frank Morales's on his website has mentioned about all his writings having a profound impact on 'Hindu intellectuals'. Now what is this new class that is projected as 'Hindu intellectuals'. The Santan Dhara has always and essentially been the religion of realisation, a Godward stream (or streams rather all mingling their water into the sea). A Realised soul's one Mahavakya is infinitely stronger than an 'intellectual's' thousand page writing. Shall these academics / journos/ paper intellectuals judge and portray the Santan Dharma to the larger world and to the posterity. This is indeed an unfortunate development, much more pronounced in our times. They miss the point that Hinduism cannot be studied as such. Studies without faith is nothing; it may be academically profitable but spiritually futile. Why do they busy tehmselves in interpreting Hinduism without themselves eraching the Goal. Didn't Thakur say that without a badge of authority no one can preach religion. His command is the badge of authority. Sanatan Dharma is all about maddening oneself in Sat-Chit-Ananda. Let by Thakur's Grace all of us may taste the divine nectar. Jay Shri Thakur, Jay Shri Maa, Jay Shri Swamiji Maharaj. Discover Stay in touch with email, IM, photo sharing more. Check it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 RE: Dr. Frank Morales - This article is inaccurate and in poor taste. Namaste Jay, Like many other members of your list, I visited the Morales website and read the article in question. He writes: " Throughout his remarkable life, Ramakrishna remained illiterate, and wholly unfamiliar with both classical Hindu literature and philosophy, and the authentic teachings of the great acharyas who served as the guardians of those sacred teachings. " Comment: Dr. Morales has obviously not taken the trouble to read the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Master, although not 'literate', had absorbed the ancient truths of Hindustan in a remarkably accurate and comprehensive fashion; in addition to acheiving an intinate aquaintance with the beliefs of Islam and Christianity. When eminent American scholars of Comparative Religion, such as the late Joseph Campbell, appreciated and honoured the teachings of the Holy Trio, we may only smile and shake our heads at the utterances of Dr. Morales. Pravrajika Vrajaprana writes: " It is a testament to the intellectual eminence of New York's Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center that a man of Joseph Campbell's rarefied caliber would spend several years helping Swami Nikhilananda in his translation of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna in addition to spending years assisting him in his four-volume translation of the Upanishads. In fact, as President of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center in New York for some years, Campbell was a pivotal figure in the Center itself. There are few intellectual giants whose names can truly be called " household words, " but Joseph Campbell was " the rarest of intellectuals in American life, " K.C. Cole of Newsweek wrote. " A serious thinker - embraced by the popular culture - Campbell was considered the world's greatest authority on mythology and folklore, and throughout his copious writings we find Sri Ramakrishna quoted on a regular basis. On occasion the quotations are lengthy, sometimes quite brief. What is important, however, is that no reader of Joseph Campbell can escape Sri Ramakrishna. Very few twentieth-century thinkers have had the power of attraction Campbell possessed, thus making his influence more profound than those who quoted Sri Ramakrishna more often or at greater length. " Further Comment: We still remember Joseph Campbell, who passed away in 1987, and we celebrated his birth centenary in March of 2004. Will we also remember Dr. Frank Morales? That is the question we must ask ourselves. Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Holy Mother and Joseph Campbell have 'stood the test of time'. Quote: " Only the practices and teachings of a great man can save one from the powerful and mighty education evil effects of these false teachers. The avatara is the greatest of great men, such as Sri Ramakrishna. " Excerpted from: http://www.kathamrita.org/apostle/m10_pref.htm Om Shanthi Om =================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Just sent the following letter to Hinduism Today I think the article by Dr. Frank Morales completely misses the point by suggesting the Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda promoted the idea that " all religions are the same " . Reading of " The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna " or the " Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda " will immediately enlighten the reader to the fallacy of such a suggestion. Sri Ramakrishna by his following different religions did demonstrate that all religions are like paths leading to the same goal. However the religions or paths remained distinct. Not only are the individual religions different, but Sri Ramakrishna cautioned against following the less desirable paths (religions). To imply that either Sri Ramakrishna or Swami Vivekananda thought or preached that all religions are the same is only an expression of one's ignorance of the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. Ramakrishna , " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda@b...> wrote: > However in this issue we also noticed the article by Dr Frank Morales on Radical Universalism (which is on his site at) > http://www.dharmacentral.com/universalism.htm > > I think it fair that we send in our comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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